The John Lewis Partnership-owned Leckford Golf Club in Hampshire has taken delivery of additional Jacobsen mowers from local Ransomes Jacobsen dealer, TH White Ltd. This latest equipment consists of a Jacobsen GP400 greens mower and Fairway 305, a highly productive five-cylinder fairway mower.
Dan Robinson, who has been at the club for almost 19 years, the last four as course manager, heads a team of five responsible for the two nine-hole courses at the club.
Commenting on his new additions to the fleet he said, “We previously used a Ransomes Commander on our fairways and although it did a good job, it wasn’t a dedicated fairway mower. The Jacobsen 305 delivers an excellent quality of cut and superb finish. We’ve had it road registered as we use it for other large open space mowing across the estate.
“I first saw the GP400 about three years ago when it was launched at the Golf Industries Show in Orlando, although it is built about 150 miles away in Ipswich! I particularly like the swing-out centre unit; it makes maintaining the units easy and the quality of cut is second to none. We have now retired our old G-Plex III and use it with the Greentek attachments for scarifying and verticutting.”
The golf facilities at Leckford comprise two 9-hole courses; the Old Course 6,276 yards par 72 when played twice and the New Course 4546 yards par 66. The Old Course is set in approximately 100 acres of rolling Hampshire downland which forms part of the TestValley. The course was designed in the early 1930s by Harry S Colt and the layout has largely been preserved with the exception of some minor remodelling and the repositioning of some bunkers. It is reported to be the finest and most challenging nine-hole course in the country, if not Europe.
The New Course is quite different. Designed by Donald Steel, it opened in 1989 and is set in 45 acres, overlooking the Old Course, the River Test and the nearby village of Longstock. The New Course is ideal for the not so accomplished golfer, yet can also prove to be a challenge for the lower handicap player.
The club is in the rare position of having a full membership and a waiting list. This is due a combination of factors: the flinty chalk soil is free draining allowing play 365 days a year; the greenkeeping team maintain both courses in excellent condition; and there are rarely any bottlenecks in play. In the spring of 2012 a refurbished clubhouse was opened when the existing brick structure was completely refurbished and a modern extension added together with a decked terrace area overlooking the 9th green.
Ransomes Jacobsen www.ransomesjacobsen.com